Figure 2.

Effect of MPTP chronic treatment on motor skills and striatal dopamine status 7 days post‐MPTP. MPTP‐treated mice showed normal motor function, exhibiting similar performances of control animals in (A) time spent on rotarod and (B) time until they turned completely downward (Tturn) and landed floor (TLA) in pole test. Normal motor function occurred in the presence of striatal dopaminergic disruption MPTP driven, as shown by reduced (C) TH, (D) DA, (E) DOPAC, and (F) HVA tissue levels and a significant increase in (G) (DOPAC+HVA)/DA, which reflects dopamine turnover. TH protein levels were assessed by Western blot, normalized with β‐actin levels, and expressed as % of control. DA and metabolites were assessed by HPLC‐ED and expressed as ng/mg protein. Results *P < 0.05, ***P < 0.001 versus SAL‐treated animals, using an unpaired Student's t‐test.